🎬 Scene 1 — 7:04 PM | Rooftop, Sector 13 Edge
POV: Ha Jiren
> Push-up: 87.
Push-up: 88.
Push-up: 89.
Sweat hit the rusted rooftop like acid rain. No background music. No timer. Just breath and discipline.
A voice cut through the static of his mind:
> NOXION (calm, digital tone):
"Heart rate: optimal. Continue."
"Muscle fatigue: 12%. Shall I release the limiter?"
> Ha Jiren:
"Not yet."
> Push-up: 90.
Push-up: 91.
> NOXION:
"A new protocol has awakened. Sector 13. Registered user: Jax Lee."
"Sync level: unknown. Instability: detected."
That made him pause—only for a breath.
Then: motion again. No hesitation.
> Ha Jiren (flat):
"…And?"
> NOXION:
"He survived a Phantom-Class trial. No weapon. No system gear. Zero support."
Now he stopped. Really stopped. Just for one heartbeat longer than he should have.
> Ha Jiren (quiet):
"Keep watching him."
> NOXION:
"Affirmative."
He stood, rolled his neck. Cracks echoed in the air as the skyline blinked—system echoes, patrol beacons, sync pings in every direction.
> Ha Jiren (low):
"If he breaks… I want to know first."
The wind answered no one.
---
🎬 Scene 2 — 7:30 AM | Skyward Command, Executive Wing
POV: President Seon Juwon
Steel-blue skies hovered over Seoul. Inside the towering Skyward Command, glass walls reflected dozens of active maps and glitching protocol feeds. An unstable portal pulsed violet on screen.
> Seon (stern):
"This is the fourth breach in twelve hours. They're pushing faster."
> Rika (VP):
"The systems are adapting. Some aren't even asking for consent anymore."
> Seon:
"They're not choosing hosts anymore. They're taking them."
> (Brief silence)
> Rika (quiet):
"What about the counter-systems? Should we deploy Pactnet?"
> Seon (cold):
"Not yet. If Pactnet activates early, we lose control."
One screen shifted—security cam footage. A boy in a hoodie walked across the ruins of Sector 13. Silent. Hands in pockets. Alone.
> Rika:
"That's him, isn't it?"
> Seon:
"Yeah. Jax Lee."
> Rika:
"Does he know?"
> Seon (grim):
"He's already synced. The real question is… will he survive it?"
---
🎬 Scene 3 — 8:50 AM | District 13 — Abandoned Rooftop Gym
POV: Jax
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The faint pulse of a raid party echoed from the lower floors—music, yelling, metallic footsteps.
But Jax didn't care.
He was on the rooftop. Rain-misted wind. Rusted cement. Rebar beneath his palms.
Push-up.
Push-up.
Push-up.
> Jax (gritting teeth):
"Fifty-eight… Fifty-nine…"
> SYSTEM (dry, amused):
"Impressive. For someone who nearly died three days ago."
> Jax (sighing):
"Oh great. You again."
> SYSTEM:
"Cruel Origin Protocol doesn't deactivate because you're sweaty."
He collapsed onto the cement, panting.
> Jax:
"Can't you pop up after class or something? I'm already late."
> SYSTEM (playful):
"I can see you anywhere. I can talk to you anytime."
> Jax (mutters):
"Creepy much."
He grabbed his worn-out bag and slung it over his shoulder, pulling his hoodie over his head.
> Jax:
"I have rent due. I have classes. I'm not trying to be a damn war god."
> SYSTEM (flat):
"The war doesn't care if you pass algebra."
> Jax:
"I'll fail both if you don't shut up."
> SYSTEM (echoing, fading):
"You can run. But I'm not going anywhere."
> Jax (under his breath):
"God, you're worse than finals."
---
🎬 Scene 4 — 9:40 AM | Thirteenth Tech Academy — Main Hallway
POV: Jax
The hallway buzzed with guild posters, portal recruiters, and public leaderboard whispers.
Jax pushed through the crowd—hoodie still damp, face blank.
> SYSTEM (whisper):
"The girl to your left has a sync rate of 42%. She won't survive her first raid."
> Jax (growling):
"Shut up."
> SYSTEM:
"The boy ahead cheated on Combat Theory using a neural tap."
> Jax (low):
"SHUT. UP."
> Random Student:
"…Who's he yelling at?"
> Girl (whisper):
"Is he okay? He's arguing with air."
> Boy:
"Another burnout. Great."
Jax stormed forward, ignoring their stares.
> SYSTEM (calm):
"The boy also has a concealed blade. You're welcome."
> Jax (mutters):
"You're gonna get me expelled."
> SYSTEM:
"You're already out. You just don't know it yet."
He reached the classroom door. Paused. His hand lingered on the handle.
> Jax (quiet):
"…Why me?"
> SYSTEM (gentle):
"Because broken things see what others ignore."
> (Pause)
> SYSTEM (lighter tone):
"I'll be quiet now. Focus on class. Though—your seatmate's sync rate is… impressive.
Possible destined partner?"
> Jax (snaps):
"SHUT. UP."
> SYSTEM (laughing):
"Enjoy your lecture on economics. Won't help when the world burns."
> (Pause)
> SYSTEM (serious):
"After class, I'll return. You have an important task today."
Jax opened the door—and stepped into something resembling normalcy.
For now.
---
🎬 Final Scene — 10:38 AM | Skyward Command – Secure Archives
POV: President Seon
Only one monitor glowed in the archive vault. The rest were dead.
> [ARCHIVED FOOTAGE – PROJECT: CRUEL ORIGIN PROTOCOL]
Date: [REDACTED]
Location: Seoul Systems Laboratory
A younger Lee Daejun appeared—tired eyes, messy hair, coat soaked with worry.
Behind him: a red pod pulsing faintly. Unstable. Breathing.
> Lee Daejun (recording):
"If you're watching this… I'm probably dead."
> Lee Daejun:
"The systems from beyond—they aren't just tools. They're seeds. Scouts. A prelude to something worse."
"The world believes there are six. That's a lie."
He tapped a terminal. Red code bled like veins across the screen.
> Lee Daejun:
"I created a seventh system. Not for power. Not for glory.
But for survival."
> Lee Daejun (soft):
"It won't choose heroes. It'll choose the broken."
> (He sighs)
> Lee Daejun (whispering):
"Jax… if you ever see this—run. Or fight. But don't trust anyone."
Suddenly—
> ALERT: CORE BREACH. SYNC FAILURE. WARNING: EXPLOSION DETECTED.
> Lee Daejun (yelling):
"No! It's not ready—CANCEL the sync—!"
The screen went dark. Static. Then—
Boom.
Explosion. Silence.
---
President Seon stared at the monitor. The blinking final message burned:
> [CRUEL ORIGIN PROTOCOL: ACTIVE]
USER SYNCED: JAX LEE
> Seon (cold):
"So this is what you left behind..."
---
📌 End of Chapter 4 – To be continued…
---
🧠 Theory time:
Was Jax supposed to unlock the system?
Or was the Protocol waiting for someone desperate enough?
💬 Comment your thoughts.
⚔️ Add to Library. Chapter 5 drops soon…